Forensic evidence has emerged to back claims that a man stood on the head of a teenager he is accused of trying to murder, the High Court has heard.

A Crown lawyer alleged that blood from the victim has now been detected on a shoe belonging to suspect Aaron Hogg.

Hogg (21), is one of two men charged with the attempted murder of an 18-year-old man in north Belfast. The accused, of Woodvale Drive in the city, is also accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to another man and criminal damage to a mobile phone.

The charges relate to an alleged attack in the Silverstream Gardens area last September.

As Hogg applied for bail yesterday a prosecuting barrister confirmed all evidence has been supplied apart from a medical on the injured teenager.

The barrister stressed the report was regarded as necessary. He also claimed: “There is now forensic evidence which shows the injured party's blood on this applicant's shoe.”

However, counsel for Hogg, argued that his client claimed to have been defending himself after coming under attack by up to 10 people.

The judge, Mr Justice McCloskey, adjourned the bail application to allow more information on the case to be provided.